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Eurovision hits a sour note with Wogan



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Published Date: 26 May 2008
By TRISTAN STEWART-ROBERTSON
SIR Terry Wogan, the veteran Eurovision commentator, has cast doubt on whether he would be involved in covering the event again.
He said it was "no longer a music contest" and that prospects for western European participants were "poor".

The 69-year-old spoke out near the end of his commentary after Britain's entry, Andy Abraham, finished joint last in the 53rd contest, held this year in the Serbian capital Belgrade. Sir Terry said: "It's a disappointment, considering that Andy Abraham gave, I think, the performance of his life.

"You have to say that this is no longer a music contest. I have to decide whether I want to do this again.

"Western European participants have to decide whether they want to take part from here on in, because their prospects are poor."

Last night, bookmaker William Hill said the odds are now even that Terry Wogan will never present the Eurovision song contest again, and offered 33/1 that the UK boycotts the contest in 2009.



The full article contains 174 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 25 May 2008 10:06 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Eurovision Song Contest
 
1

JG,

Fife 26/05/2008 01:01:48
From the little bits I saw of the "show" I would say they'd have been quicker just to say "Which country do you like the best from this list?" and voted for them. It would have cut out all of the garbage songs, trimmed the programme down to about 45 minutes and they could have put a decent film on to make up the time.
2

Ned,

Morningside 26/05/2008 01:46:42
Well Sir Terry. The contest was always mediocre with about 1% of real talent comimg through.Does anybody really take this event seriously. It was a bit of fun harmless and always third rate. life will go on.
P.S. I havent watched the stupid show for years as even back in the early years it took itself to be more important than it really was.
3

Guga II,

Rockall 26/05/2008 02:58:44
Given that the whole thing is utter garbage, from start to finish, does anyone actually watch it or care about it?
4

FrancesP,

26/05/2008 03:31:30
#3. The literal answer to that question is that a couple of hundred million watch it across Europe, including about ten million in the UK, so presumably most of them care about it. The obvious solution to the political voting problem, by the way, is for the BBC to allow Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland to enter the contest separately - it would be the right thing to do on its own merits, but it would also set up a new British Isles voting bloc to rival that of the Balkans, the Baltic, Scandinavia and the ex-USSR.
5

Beca,

Sydney 26/05/2008 03:55:21
good riddance UK! but why stop with eurovision, why not leave europe altogether? the place would be better without you
6

,

26/05/2008 04:01:56
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7

Pilrig.,

Livingston 26/05/2008 06:00:20
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
8

Selgovae,

Scottish Borders 26/05/2008 07:48:39
#1 'they'd have been quicker just to say "Which country do you like the best from this list?" '

I don't buy that. This is Europe. Everyone hates their neighbouring country. Are you saying the Balkan countries beat the hell out of each other from Monday to Friday and then vote for each other on Eurovision on Saturday? And do you imagine any of Russia's neighbours actually like them?

I'd guess it's about marketing. Most neutrals would agree the Russian song was as dull as plastescine. But the singer apparently is a big idol among the ladies. Nobody here has heard of him, but I suspect he has exposure on TV and radio around Russia's neighbours. If the UK want to win, they need to take it seriously and market the singer and song better all over Europe before the show.

On the other hand, who cares?


9

Proximaking,

Dundee 26/05/2008 08:07:55
From what I saw of Wogan yesterday "I haven't decided yet" this is just another way of boosting his rate for the job next year. What an odious little man he is. Who else would charge for their time on "children in need"? The sooner he is off our screens for good the better. Don't they need rubbish presenters in Hell?

10

scunnin,

Vienna 26/05/2008 08:55:28
#8 have you watched it yourself? If you watch carefully it is generally the surrounding countries that vote for each other. I have watched eurovision a few times and seen very clearly who gets the votes and who doesnt. Do a quick check for the past few years and you will see for yourself.

This isnt a stunt about Wogan, this is the truth, just the figures yourself and you will see who voted for who. Yes the Balkans do vote for each other, yes they do give only the best votes there, they never vote for which group is the best, only their neighbours.. if you dont believe me, check for yourself who voted for who and with what score ..
11

scunnin,

Vienna 26/05/2008 09:04:58
sorry do the figures yourself .. sorry missed you "do"
12

JG,

Fife 26/05/2008 09:10:47
#8 Selgovae
Clearly you never watched ANY of it! Russia's votes came from countries that used to part of the USSR; the song would never have won on merit. I'm not saying our entry should have won but it certainly shouldn't have come last.
13

eric,

26/05/2008 09:45:12
Rename it eurotrash its always been about which country can make the biggest ass of itself.its amusing
14

,

26/05/2008 11:18:27
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15

,

26/05/2008 11:23:52
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16

Itchy,

26/05/2008 11:42:23
#14 Wogan was born before Ireland gained independence and holds a British passport.
17

,

26/05/2008 12:38:29
Comment Removed By Administrator
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18

Alba Abú,

Edinburgh 26/05/2008 13:33:40
16 Itchy. I think you are wrong.
Ireland gained her Independence in 1921. If Wogan was born before that year he would be at least 87,and I dont think that he is that old, do you?
19

Green booger,

26/05/2008 13:53:05
Eurovision has nothing at all to do with talent. It's a political tool for the pro-EU tools.

EU goes quiet ahead of Irish vote
Monday, 26 May 2008
The European Union is putting off decision-making and being deliberately coy about future plans for fear of provoking a "No" vote in the Republic of Ireland’s referendum on the constitutional treaty.

The International Herald Tribune reports: "Rarely have so few voters caused so many jitters across so many capitals. And with opinion polls showing much of the Irish electorate undecided, the possibility that the Lisbon Treaty may be rejected has sent unfamiliar tremors of fear through the ranks of Europe's top bureaucrats, who rarely have to trouble with voters.

"That has meant a kind of unacknowledged but collective halt on anything controversial, particularly if it might upset Irish sensibilities."Initiatives likely to worry or annoy Irish voters are being played down or delayed, the paper says.

"For months little has been heard about plans to increase European defence co-operation or about a fundamental review of how the bloc spends its budget, expected to reach €134 billion in 2009.

"Ireland is a defiantly neutral country and, in the 2001 referendum, defense proved to be a vital and controversial issue.

"Another initiative liable to worry Irish voters and of which little has been heard is the EU's long-standing ambition to harmonize the way in which corporate tax is levied. Ireland's economic boom was helped by some of the lowest taxes on corporations in the union."

Read the full sorry story at iht.com

20

Itchy,

26/05/2008 14:15:55
#18 The Irish Free state was formed in 1921. Full independence was not declared until 1949.

After 1921, the Irish fought a civil war over whether or not the Free state treaty would lead to full independence.
21

Charles Linskaill,

Edinburgh 26/05/2008 14:52:32

The 'Old Terry Boy' lets face it, the show is Soo bad, its good to get your yearly, 'Treatment' of,..

'Old Terry Boy' :-)

Watched a little, but the,...Words that came from DYW's mouth while it was on, made me switch over PDQ! :-)
22

ldopas,

UK 26/05/2008 15:36:08
5 Beca,Sydney

Why bother posting that vitriol. You live in Australia, not Europe. Mind your own damn business and sort out your own country. It doesnt surprise me you would stick up for the rubbish on display in the Euro song contest, your nation not exactly being the high of anything approaching class itself.

You say Europe would be better off without us? Well considering we are the second biggest, by some margin, contributors to the EU, and get very little out of it. Then I dont think europe would be better off without us. Quite the reverse.

You clearly do not understand that a lot of people in the UK see this contest as a microcosm of what we think of europe. In a nutshell; we pay for it (as we do the contest), we get nothing out of it, it shows that when all europe is involved standards are not increased but dragged down into garbage and block voting means that nothing pratical will be done for the good of all but instead for the self service of a few.

Thanks for Neighbours by the way, not.
23

ldopas,

26/05/2008 15:38:11
15 Champions of Europe '67,Glasgow

Garbage. What point are you making? Of course Ireland doesnt consider themselves British....erm because they arent.

But your point is rubbish anyway. Why does Ireland always give us good marks (10 points this time), if they hate us so much?
24

Pepe Deluxe,

Edinburgh 26/05/2008 16:01:01
I'm surprised at all the "why should we care" comments.

Of course we should care! The UK is one of the Big-4 countries that pay substantially more than any other towards the funding of the Eurovision Song Contest.

If the contest has effectively become the Vote For Your Eastern European neighbour competition, then why on earth are we putting so much money into it? Perhaps if your readers realised that TV License Payers money makes up the UK contribution, they would be slightly more outraged?

It's just a bit of fun right? (@_@)
25

Deag,

Edinburgh 26/05/2008 16:01:33
#16 Not True. Wogan was born after Irish independence, however he became a British Citizen in 1995 allowing him to use "Sir".

26

ldopas,

26/05/2008 16:06:02
24 Pepe Deluxe,Edinburgh

Hear hear.

Good post. As usual some people dont want us to say anything even though we are paying for it. In fact that gives us the right to comment!
27

Charles Linskaill,

Edinburgh 26/05/2008 16:42:32

NO Matter what I said or anyone says's, its a compulsive view, even if its only for 10mins.
28

The Former Mr. Angry,

Perth 26/05/2008 17:16:56
He said it was "no longer a music contest"...

Get a grip Tel it never was! There's usually some entertainment value in the clots that appear as contestants, but to take this seriously is a sign that you need a massive salary cut.
29

,

26/05/2008 17:46:55
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30

Itchy,

26/05/2008 18:06:58
#25 Full Irish independence was only declared in 1949. Terry Wogan was born in 1938 or 39. He was born after the Irish free state was formed and that was not full independence.

The Irish fought a civil war over the point.
31

Charles Linskaill,

Edinburgh 26/05/2008 18:09:24


Morela,us, @#29,

...............??

____________________

"so what should we do?"

Feel free to make the first suggestion.
32

gus1940,

Edinburgh 26/05/2008 19:50:25
When are the UK media going to twig that the demise of UK scores in this contest dates from Blair's decision to suck up to the septics and embark on illegal wars.
33

Selgovae,

Scottish Borders 26/05/2008 23:33:39
#12 JG

I watched almost all of it. It's compulsory in this house. I know Russia's neighbours voted for Russia, but I'm guessing it's in spite of being neighbours, not because of it.

Over here, we know nothing about the singers/songs from Eastern Europe or the Balkans until the contest. But some of these singers are clearly stars in their own countries, and, I'm guessing, in their neighbouring countries too. Young girls in Ukraine, etc, vote for the Russian guy because his picture is plastered all over their teen mags and they see/hear him on TV and radio, not because he's Russian.

Well, that's my theory.
34

FrancesP,

27/05/2008 01:20:03
#15. I'm struggling to see what your response has got to do with anything I wrote. I can only assume you're irritated by my use of the phrase 'British Isles', for which I'm happy to apologise - I only used it because there's no neutral alternative available (I understand in Ireland they tend to say 'these islands' which isn't much of a name). By the way, I'm a Catholic of Irish ancestry (like you, I presume) and an SNP supporter, so I've got no axe to grind on that score.

"Where are the votes going to come from?" Firstly, from the fact that Scotland, Wales and England would award each other points. Secondly, from exactly the same sort of Irish people who gave the United Kingdom 8 points in the contest on Saturday, and who have consistently awarded the UK 7-8 points every single year since 2004. That's the reason for assuming a British Isles (forgive me, these islands) voting bloc would operate in much the same way as those that already exist in the Balkans and the ex-USSR.

And yes, I've obviously just revealed myself to be a fan of the contest, so if that leads you to tell me to 'get a life' for the second time, will you please note that my current life is very much a female one and I therefore spell my name with an 'e'!
35

The Scotchman,

27/05/2008 14:28:08
It is time for Scotland to finally have their own entry, as per Alyn Smith of the SNP.

You only need read some of the chat from our European friends who think "England" came last. And perhaps it is for this reason they came last.

Scotland needs to be represented in everything as Scotland, or else it is erroneously erased under this UK/England.
36

JG,

Fife 28/05/2008 00:26:36
#33 Selgovae
True, I know nothing about Russian singers (or any of the other Eastern European "stars") but I can recognise a decent tune when I hear it and there is no way that our entry was amongst the worst! In the run-up to the programme they played a song that endlessly repeated the word "cheeky" to a tune that could have been invented by a 5 year old. It was truly dire!

Altogether now "I know a song that'll get on your nerves..............."
37

Fanling,

Switzerland 28/05/2008 03:59:20
Does anybody seriously give a hoot whether Wogan or Desperate Dan hosts this idiotic panto? Was it ever "a music contest"? It's a fun event and has little to do with music as we know it. Wogan, on his £500,000 and rising, BBC salary, courtesy of UK TV licence-payers, should be a greater concern.
38

Highland Len,

dalmally 28/05/2008 20:59:15
I really dont care about the song contest,Its talentless boring junk. But answer this. EUROvision song contest, Since when has Russia been a part of Europe?
39

Fanling,

Switzerland 02/06/2008 02:29:38
#38
Probably at the same time as Israel and Turkey, those two other European stalwarts. LOL!

 

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